Plymouth, Mass., American Legion Post 40 member Jim Kelley, on the Sept. 29 debut of a food pantry at the post after Legionnaires there had hosted a mobile food pantry last summer to help more than 100 veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

September Impact: Virtual job fair, 100 Miles for Hope draw big

More than 4,200 participants registered and began recording their efforts through the end of September in the American Legion Veterans and Children Foundation 100 Miles for Hope program. The event, which raises funds to help train American Legion service officers and provide grants for the organization’s Temporary Financial Assistance program, asks participants to walk, run, paddle, pedal, swim or transport themselves however they see fit no less than 100 miles by Veterans Day.

Registrants receive a dry-wick shirt, and those who complete their journeys get a certificate of accomplishment. Dozens have already finished their 100 miles and posted images of how they did it on legion.org/legiontown. It’s not too late to jump into the healthy, fun activity by signing up at legion.org/100miles.

The American Legion stared down the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple other ways in September, including a virtual career event in Texas that attracted 789 jobseekers Sept. 15, a virtual Americanism Conference on Sept. 26 and a virtual in-state Legacy Run event in Virginia that raised $32,000 for the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund.

To see how The American Legion made an impact in September, and in months prior, visit legion.org/membership/impact on the web.